Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-03
A PIONEER PREACHER.
Hsrdships of Life In the MINING
Camps OF California.
Fross tho Saoramssso Bee.

Camps OF California.
Fross the lsaoramsnse Bee.
o,a AZ the abiest and most eloquent
,r1n,t orators in California to-day is the
Pav. DR.. j. 9. simmons, pastor Of the
Metbodist Episcopal Church south al
SStco Last Sunday evening, In that
sItg he preached his thirty.fifth anniver.
sary sermon, telling at length the story
~ bis work in the vineyard OF the Pacific
ooest DIR. summons Is man OF much
obiIitv. who has produced a number OF
sble works in relation to religious sub
facts. He has a clear, ringing voice, ana
nossesses the power OF holding his au-
g,orces At times his hearers are highly
smused. and again they are In tears. AS
a nublic speaker he has but few equals.
He IS man OF fine appearar ce, and his
hair and beard are as white as snow.
Be is the son OF an honOred Methodist
nreacher of the Georgia Conference, and
vas born in Butts county, ga, in 1927.
He graduated from Emory College, at
Oxford. Ca. in 1S4s, and was ordained to
nreach q few days after receiving his
dipoma. In 1852 he was sent as mis-
eIonary to California, reaching San Fran
pisco in February Of that year.
The doctor relates that the first objects
that attracted his attention upon step
ming from the ship were the immense
rambling saloons, brilliantly lighted aud
orowded with men, with here and there q
woman, seated at table perintending
a game. Great piles of gold lay in the
utmost protusiOn on the tables. Shrewd
and well dressed games ,ers were on hand
TO fleece the roughly dressed miners,
large numbers OF whom were stalking
and losing their treasures on the turn OF
af nnuNt1IRnd hnra
was a field that needed religious influ-
epce, and be longed to be at work.
He was present and assisted in the Or
ganIzation Of the Pacific Annual Confer
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Cburch,
South, in April 1852, and is the only re-
naming member OF that first conference
Ia California. The doctor was sent TO
perform his first work in the mines. His
first sermon in California was preached
in Sacramento, where he stopped one
day while on his way to Grass Valley.
He bad rough experience from the
day he left Sacramento, but he stood up
bravely. As he left this city he was
homesick, but bis THOUGHTS were soon
stage coach, in admiring the lovely
Sacramento Valley, which was
not gemmed, as now, with fine
farm houses, vineyards, orchards, and
gardens, but only one wide, flower
spaneled plain. AS he arrived In Nevada
City at night snow was falling rapidly.
The crooked streets were crowded with
miners and the gambling halls were wide
open. The parsonage" where he was
to stop was a rougn shed made OF
"shakes," built to the end OF the church,
which was constructed of the same ma
terial. TWAS rather hard to turn in 10
such building, where the rude blasts OF
the Slerras could sweep through. But
that was the style of buildings all over
the town.
The preacher opened his commission at
Grass Valley on the Sunday following bis
arrival In the mines. The ''churca" con.
sisted OF nothing but the framework, and
Or. simmons set to work and completed
IL with his own hands. His congreZ at on
consisted mostly OF men, and few OF them
al that. II half a dozen ladies were pres
ent 1t was considered wonderful. 1t was
desperate work trying u convert men
VINO hAd gone into the mines, tasted OF
the gold excitement, cast of all restraint
ana plunged recklessly into any and
everything that came along. And yet
some OF the widest OF the men had them
serves been preachers and professors
pack in the States"
On loot, and he was acquainted with every
golo hunter for miles around. He ate
WIN them, slept with them at night, but
oIteh alone under tree. He preached to
C1em on Sundays, attended to them in
SICKNESS, and buried their dead He
preached under trees, In cabins, in
saloons, ten-pin alleys and gambling
paHs: On many occasions he would
sIahd IN saloon, behind bar, which he
NouId use for pulpit. while mis- congre-
katloh OF miners, all heavily armed with
gstois and knives, would sit on the
WHISKY barrels while be urged them
Ho, guy gold tried in the fire,
s9tt they might be rich" During these
ulscourses he would frequently be Inter-
supted DY some drunk or "holy terror"
n VINO would swagger up to the bar and
s'o"l out: say, parson. won't yer give
us dflnkW ~uch intrusions usually
ruueu ny couple OF miners grabbing up
sue ohtnder and throwing him out of the
Loor, and giving him a significant warn
lug ny tapping their pistols that he had
s ss not repeat the trick. Just as soon
~. a. 'ne preacher would end his discourse
n,e bartender would take his place be-
ca nu Tue bar, and in O few miuutes
glasses. " $40 "
- -" ASiN5 W r Tt0Cu AOTTAi, tueu
M inc OF The liveliest camps In he mou q a ms
n olmmons used TO preach his sermons
noo great gambling hall, standing upon
T Uuv VI me gaming tabes. Before the ser
a. Gn would be ended some sport would
ran ne MS nat aud 20 through the crowd
.g', sIIklhg: Boys, the parson can't
40 ', r 10 10 all that talking for nothing,
san, ySpd better ante a piece" The
ante, was always large.
,,te' leaving tie mines the doctor was
rs,onel AZ Stockton, san Jose, and Sac
In IAN 70 respectively, being in this city
ha S oo- curing the big food. Since then
imno Ss oeen IN San Francisco and other
nea pO, my places. lie mas preached
nun, o,VOO sermons, besides delivering
ON i0efless lectures and speeches, with.
slAglo years rest.
ulsnouEh well along in years, the
IND preacher 10 In the best Of health.
moo NJ" WI doubtless be spared for mauy
ipog se 1s to perform his work. he IL
OH, from one end OF the state 10 the
ana u universally liked.
49, . ----------
- ne Praise of sagadauf